John Farrow gets the directors credit, but Howard Hughes, who ran RKO at the time brought in Richard Fleischer to re-shoot some scenes and he ended up re-shooting the entire movie. But what a movie it is.
Robert Mitchum stars as Dan Milner, a down on his luck gambler who has a bizarre series of "accidents" that lead him to a mysterious group of people who off him 5000 dollars up front to stay at a posh resort in Baja, California and once there for a bit he will then receive $50,000 more.
We learn, long before the Mitchum character that a gangster named Nick Ferraro (Raymond Burr) is trying to gain entrance into the USA after being deported for criminal activity, and Milner is a fall guy in a most unusual plan.
Dan boards a chartered plane with a lovely young woman on board named Lenore Brent (Jane Russell). Milner learns that everyone at the resort seems to be playing a character and not who they really are. Things spiral out of control as Milner learns the real reason he is there, and it's not good.
Mitchum and Russell are perfect together and it's this film that started their life long friendship in real life. However, it's Vincent Price in the role of a ham actor named Mark Cardigan who really steals the show. His outrageous comedy is a film highlight.
The rest of the cast is a virtual who's who of film noir including Charles McGraw, Paul Frees, Tim Holt, Marjorie Reynolds as well as Jim Backus and John Mylong as a cold blooded plastic surgeon. Also there are many small uncredited roles with Bob Cornthwaite, Charles Horvath and Mamie Van Doren among others.
This is a classic Noir with all of the key elements such as dark brooding characters, dark shadows, murder and double and triple crosses. The movie changes tone during the second half as Price brings his character of Cardigan to the forefront with some whimsical dialogue with Mitchum. The climax where Cardigan attempts to rescue Milner is a classic.
I can't see anyone not liking this film, especially film noir fans. Russell looks absolutely stunning thru the entire film. Highly Recommended!!
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